He taps bamboo for music

An exponent mourns the dying art of making instruments of bamboo

For D. Kuttappan, a tribesperson at Ramakkalmedu here, bamboo spells music since he fashions unique musical instruments out of it. “When a simple flute is made from bamboo culm, the craftsman turns into a musician with a keen sense of rhyme. He will feel music the instrument produces,” says Kuttappan.

The craft provided him with a livelihood since there were many takers for the musical instruments. However, COVID-19 threw his life out of gear and he altered his expertise to meet the demand. He now makes bamboo huts or other crafts as demanded by the customer.

But his heart is with the musical instruments, the common ones being Kallanmula chenda, Kinneeram, Ekadhari, Mazhathullikilukkam, Karu, Maram Jambu, Thudi, Mulam Thudi, and Udukku. He can make 20 musical instruments from bamboo culms and play them too. “All musical instruments are tailor-made for the customer. I usually work in front of the customer so that they can try out the instrument on the spot,” he says.